Fastening apparatus for circular container



Oct. 21, 1969 A. M. ROSFELDER FASTENING APPARATUS FOR CIRCULAR CONTAINER Filed March 20, 1968 FIG.3 FIG. 4

FIG. 2

INVENTOR. ANDRE M. ROSFELDER BY Z m 2' ATTORNEYS nited States Patent Ofiice 3,473,688 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 3,473,688 FASTENING APPARATUS FOR ZIRCULAR CONTAINER Andre M. Rostelder, La Jolla, (Ialif, assignor, by naesne assl nments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Fiied Mar. 2t), 196$, Ser. No. 714,662 Km. Cl. B6Sd 45/06, 45/04 US. Cl. 220-5 6 Claims ABSTRACT UP THE DISCLQfiURE The description discloses a fastening apparatus for a circular container which is divided into a pair of bowllike sections with circular mating edges. The fastening apparatus may include a circular band which is mounted about a respective container section and has a diameter which is slightly less than the container sections edge diameter. A clamp means is provided for forcing the bands toward one another so as to fasten the container sections together. Each band may comprise a rigid ring and a resilient strip which is bonded to the ring and a respective container section so that the rigid ring will be retained in place even though the container section shrinks when subjected to external pressure. The invention is especially useful for deep sea capsules.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the pay ment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

Glass and ceramic hemispheres presently provide one of the best ways for housing deep sea instruments. Their advantages are high compressive strength, high buoyancy, anti-corrosive, and non-magnetic. Wider use of glass hemispheres, however, is drastically restrained by the difficulty of providing a fastener apparatus which will provide a good seal between the edges of the hemispheres. When the holes are provided in the hemispheres for connecting the fasteners the natural structural integrity of the hemispheres is greatly reduced. It would be desirable if all such holes could be eliminated. It is also important that the fastening apparatus enable perfect alignment of the hemisphere edges prior to clamping. When these edges are initially misaligned or slip during fastening the structural integrity of the hemispheres is again reduced.

The present invention provides a fastening device which overcomes the aforementioned problems. No holes are required to be drilled into the glass hemispheres and perfect alignment of the hemisphere edges can be insured prior to and after clamping. This has been accomplished by providing a circular band which is mounted about a respective hemisphere and has a diameter which is slightly less than the hemispheres edge diameter. A clamp means is provided for forcing the bands toward one another so as to fasten the hemispheres with their edges in mating engagement. Each band may include a rigid ring and a resilient strip which is bonded to both the ring and the hemisphere so that upon shrinking of the hemisphere under external pressure the band is retained in place. Accordingly, with a few simple components the hemispheres can be easily fastened and their structural integrity will be maximized even though they are subjected to a very deep ocean environment.

It is to be understood that the preceding has described only one possible use for the fastening apparatus. The fastener could be employed with any cotnainer which is divided into bowl-like sections such as where each section has frusto-conical sides. Furthermore, the fastening apparatus could be utilized with a cotnainer which is constructed of other materials such as plastic or metal.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned problems of fastening a pair of glass hemispheres together.

Another object is to provide a fastening device for fastening a container which is divided into two sections.

A further object is to provide a fastening apparatus for fastening a container which is divided into a pair of bowllike sections.

Still another object is to provide a container which is divided into two bowl'like sections and a fastening apparatus which will enable the container sections to be clamped with maximum structural integrity.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a spherical container which is clamped together by a fastening apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along plane IIII of FIG. 1 to show the details of one embodiment of the fastening apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified fastening apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing still another modified fastening apparatus.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like or similar parts throughout the several vews, there is shown in FIG. 1 a container, such as a deep seat spherical capsule 10, which is divided into a pair of hemispherical shells 12 and 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the hemispherical shells 12 and 14 may have respective circular edges 16 and 18 which are adapted for scalable mating engagement with one another. In the exemplary embodiment the hemispherical shells are constructed of glass or plastic which is especially useful for operations in a deep ocean environment. It is highly important that the structural integrity of these types of materials not be violated when the container sections or shells are clamped together.

A fastening apparatus, generally designated at 20, is provided which does not violate the structural integrity of the hemispherical shells 12 and 14. The fastening apparatus 2*.) may include a pair of circular bands 22 wherein the internal diameter of each band is slightly less than the external edge diameter of a hemispherical shell. Each band 22 is mounted about a respective hemispherical shell substantially parallel to the edge thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, a clamp means 24 is utilized for forcing the bands 22 toward one another so as to fasten the hemispherical sections 12 and 14 with their edges in mating engagement. The clamp means will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Each circular band 22 may comprise a rigid ring 26, such as a stainless steel ring, which has an internal diameter which is slightly less than the external edge diameter of a hemispherical section. As shown in FIG. 2, each ring 26 may be slightly spaced from the edge of a respective hemispherical shell. Each ring 26 may further be substantially cylindrical so that a space is provided between the internal diameter of the ring and the respective hemispherical shell. Each band 22 may further include a resilient strip 28 which is disposed in the space between each respective ring 26 and hemispherical shell. Each strip 28 is bonded to both the ring and a hemispherical shell so that upon shrinking of the shell due to external pressure the respective ring 26 is retained in place. Alternately, each strip 28 may comprise an elastic sealant which is poured into place and becomes self-bonding to the respective ring 26 and hemispherical shell. As shown in FIG. 2, when the ring 26 makes tight engagement at its bottom end with the respective hemispherical shell a receptacle is provided for receiving the elastic sealant.

When the hemispherical shells 12 and 14 are constructed of glass or plastic their edges 16 and 18 and especially the corners thereof are especially susceptible to chipping during handling operations. This problem has been overcome by providing a space between each ring 26 and its respective hemispherical shell edge and mounting in this space an annular resilient bumper 30 which extends about each respective hemispherical shell in close proximity to its edge. In this manner foreign objects will normally strike the bumper before they damage the sensitive edge of the hemispherical shell.

As shown in FIG. 1, the clamp 24 may include a catch 32 which may be welded to one of the rings 26 and a latch mechanism 34 which may be pivotally connected to the other ring 26. This type of clamp is well known in the art and may be purchased from Nielsen Hardware Corporation in Hartford, Conn. Three such clamps may be provided around the container at 120 intervals. FIG. 3 illustrates a pair of modified bands 36.

Each of these bands are circular and still have an internal diameter which is slightly less than the external edge diameter of a hemispherical shell. This embodiment differs from the FIG. 2 embodiment in that each band 36 includes a rigid cylindrical ring 38 which is spaced all along its internal diameter from the respective hemispherical shell. If desired this may be accomplished by making the internal diameter of the ring 38 slightly larger than the internal diameter of the ring 26 or the ring can be spaced further from the hemispherical shell edge. Disposed within the space between each ring 38 and the respective hemispherical shell is a resilient strip 40 which may be bonded to both the ring and the exterior surface of the hemispherical shell. In this manner the rings 38 are retained in place when the hemispherical shells are shrunk due to high external pressure. If desired each resilient strip 40 may be provided with an integral lip 42 which provides a bumper between the ring 38 and the respective hemispherical shell edge. Each lip or bumper 42 may engage a respective ring 38 so as to further retain this ring in place when the hemispherical shell undergoes shrinkage.

In the same manner as the FIG. 2 embodiment the bumpers 42 will protect the delicate hemispherical shell edges 16 and 18.

It is important to note that in both the FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 embodiments the bumpers 30 and 42 have been slightly spaced from the hemispherical shell edges 16 and 18. The reason for this spacing is to leave the edges 16 and 18 open to view so that perfect alignment can be obtained between these edges prior to clamping. However, this leaves the edges slightly unprotected during handling operations. This problem can be overcome, as shown in FIG. 4, by providing each bumper 42 with an integral annular tab 44 which is transparent so as to enable the view for alignment of the edges 16 and 18. If desired the resilient strip 40, the bumper 42 and the resilient tab 44 may be extruded as one element.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 it was explained that the ring 26 has an internal diameter slightly less than the external edge diameter of the hemispherical shell. In the construction of this embodiment I have found that when the ring is constructed of stainless steel that a satisfactorv diametrical difference is .l6%, such as inch for a l0- inch diameter sphere. This difference may be greater, however, if the ring is heated before melting. In the FIG. I embodiment I positioned the ring from the hemlspherical shell edge for a 10-inch diameter sphere. The strip 38 was a silicone rubber sealant.

If the rings 26 or 28 should slip from their original positions when the capsule 10 is subjected to very deep ocean environments, the rings may be provided with apertures (not shown) and the strip 28 or 40, as appropriate. may be provided with projections (not shown) which extend through the apertures so that even though the shells 12 and 14 shrink significantly the projections will retain the rings in place. Alternately, the strip, like stri 40, could be provided with another lip or bumper (not shown), similar to bumper 40 at the opposite end of the strip on the other end of the respective ring 38 to retain the ring in place. A sphere projection (not shown) in the same are could be used in lieu of the additional lip or bumper to serve the same purpose. By the above means the rings are provided support in a vertical plane when the shells 12 and 14 undergosignificant shrinkage.

It is to be understood that the fastening device is compatible with other types of containers than that described hereinabove. For insance, the fastening device can be used with any circular container which is divided into a pair of bowl-like sections. Further, the container sections may be made of other materials such as metal.

It is now readily apparent that the present invention provides a fastening apparatus for container sections and is especially useful in clamping a deep sea spherical glass capsule which is divided into two hemispherical shells. The structural integrity of the shells is not violated and upon shrinkage of the shells the fastening components are retained in place. Further, the fastening apparatus is easily provided with means for protecting the delicate edges of the hemispherical shells during handling.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a circular container which is divided into a pair of bowl-like sections with circular mating edges, a fastening apparatus comprising:

a pair of circular bands wherein an internal diameter of each band is slightly less than the external edge diameter of a container section;

each band being mounted about a respective container section in a spaced disposition from and substantially parallel to the edge thereof;

clamp means for forcing the bands toward one another so as to fasten the container sections with their edges in mating engagement;

each rigid ring being substantially cylindrical so that a space is provided between the internal diameter of the ring and the respective container section;

a resilient strip disposed in the space between each respective ring and container section, each strip being secured to both the ring and container section.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the container section edges are adapted for scalable engagement when mated with one another; and

said container is adapted to withstand a high external pressure.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said container is constructed of glass; and including: an annular resilient bumper mounted about each container section in the space between the metallic ring and the edge of the container section.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

each respective resilient strip and resilient bumper are integral; and

each rigid ring peripherally engaging a respective resilient bumper.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

each respective strip and bumper are bonded to both a respective rigid ring and container section.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 5 including:

an annular transparent tab connected to each respective bumper; and

each tab being co-extensive with an edge of a respective container section.

6 References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 11/ 1922 Great Britain.

6/ 1954 France.

10 GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

